Chapter 22
The schedule at Galimar Academy went by busily.
As it was called the best educational institution across the continent, the curriculum also boasts a high level to match.
There were no exceptions for freshmen.
There's not even time given to adapt.
Lectures where all kinds of papers and specialized knowledge abound.
An amount of assignments pouring down like rain.
Spartan education that seems to say 'If you can't handle this, you don't deserve to be at Galimar'.
All of this happened in just one week.
-This is insane.
-I knew about Galimar's notorious reputation, but... I didn't think it would be this bad.
-Have you finished your assignments? I just can't understand...
-More importantly, there's a practical exam in just two weeks, right? What kind of semester has eight exams?
Class A, called the empire's brilliant future.
Although it was a class gathered with only top-tier students, even they weren't safe from the clutches of academics.
No, rather, they were rolling even more severely.
As they belonged to the advanced class, responsibilities double that weighed them down.
-Before starting the lecture... all assignments for Class A will be three times that of regular classes.
-Outstanding talent needs matching fertilizer.
-This is an order from the Dean. Please complete it excellently.
Perhaps the amazing thing is that there are no dropouts yet.
Maybe because they're all elites raised in prestigious families, it seems they came somewhat prepared.
Of course, they did exchange complaints among themselves.
"Huhu."
Of course, it wasn't my business.
As I'm spinning a pen to kill time, the pink life form sitting next to me speaks up hesitantly.
"Y-Young Master...?"
"Ah, Miss Regia."
"I, I was doing the assignment, and there's a part I don't understand..."
"Oh my~ I should help you!"
I had long since graduated from the academics of the original work.
I repeated countless studies during the time I was searching for a happy ending.
Unless it's the latest papers from magic towers or alchemists, nothing can fluster me.
"Let's see... It's a problem dealing with the limits of illusion magic?"
"Yes, that, no matter how many times I solve it, I keep coming to the conclusion that it's a paradox..."
In that sense, our protagonist's newbie behavior was enough to stimulate this veteran's heart.
Green eyes blinking.
"It's, it's too difficult... I, I can't solve it."
"It's not difficult. For this type of problem, using 'Illia's Formula' makes it simple. Let me show you directly."
"Huh?"
I smile brightly and stick close to her side.
Perhaps surprised by my enthusiastic attitude? Regia was showing a cute reaction.
It seems her face is even turning a bit red.
"Now, now, focus."
"Ah, ugh... Yes."
I solve the problem step by step.
As we're finishing the assignment like that, the fox watching from behind mutters.
Irene with an indifferent expression.
"That's unexpected."
"Pardon?"
"I didn't know you were good at studying too."
"Huhu, I'm a good student in my own way?"
I felt my shoulders rising for no reason.
The feeling of being helpful to the protagonist. There was an indescribable strange joy.
"Perfect. I'm glad you seem to have understood properly!"
"It's because Y-Young Master explained kindly... Hehe, thank you."
"What a diligent student."
We finish the private tutoring with smiles all around.
As we were doing assignments, time passed quickly before we knew it. We stood up from our seats.
"Well then, shall we go back now?"
"Yes, yes...!"
"Is it finally over?"
We exit the quiet library.
Leaving the space full of bookshelf and paper scents, sparkling sunlight brushes our eyes.
A cool breeze blows immediately.
Whee-ee-ee-.
The scenery as we walked out of the building was spring.
Freshly blooming flower petals, the affection of rippling thickets, the kindness of a temperature not too harsh.
We crossed the peaceful path.
"The weather is nice today."
"It is."
"I'm realizing it anew, but... Galimar's campus really seems beautiful."
"It's an academy the size of a small city after all."
"There's a reason it's called the best."
As we're exchanging light chatter, there's a group walking from the opposite direction.
They were also first-year students.
Are they going to do assignments too?
We were about to pass by with light eye greetings, but everyone's atmosphere was a bit strange.
Gazes looking sideways blatantly.
-Is that the man? The one Lady Beniti mentioned.
I listen for a moment.
Using lies to raise my hearing to the extreme, I hear the voices of whispering students.
It was a resonance full of hostility.
-He doesn't look as strong as we heard... How is he in the top student position?
-Oh my, didn't you see in the class assignment test?
-I only heard that Her Highness the Imperial Princess forfeited.
-She's such a mysterious person after all.
-She must have thought it was trivial. She probably judged there was no more value in facing him.
-Well, she's someone who can afford that.
They probably can't imagine I'm listening.
It was quite a distance away after all.
Unfortunately, big brother can hear everything.
Even if you're talking on the opposite side of the continent, if I put my mind to it, I can hear.
I smile ominously.
'Emilia again, huh.'
I chew over the name I briefly heard.
Although a week has passed since the semester started, the evaluation of me among students was still not good.
It's because I hadn't shown them any particular achievements.
Most students thought I was a bubble.
Even the few who didn't were those belonging to 'neutral gear' saying it's still difficult to judge.
Emilia played a big part in this public sentiment.
-I'll make you regret it.
It seems it wasn't just empty words.
She was thoroughly carrying out her warning.
Manipulating public opinion and cutting down reputation.
It seems she plans to isolate me and then slowly devour me... it was quite fun to watch.
"The name of Beniti is scary indeed."
Those who reign over the empire next to the imperial family.
Students have no choice but to be mindful of the villain, whether they like it or not. Because they don't know when their necks might fly.
Of course, Emilia doesn't seem like she would do that.
She's just quite twisted from inferiority, but not a character broken enough to lay hands on lives.
Just a common villain young lady position, you could say.
"But it's starting to get annoying... what should I do?"
How can I play with this in an interesting way?
As I'm lost in thought for a moment, Irene peeking from the side whispers.
"By Beniti... you mean that blue-haired girl we met before?"
"That's right."
"Are you going to kill her after all?"
"I don't understand why your conclusion always goes in that direction."
Does she really want me to kill someone?
As I stare with a look of disbelief, soon the fox turns her eyes away awkwardly.
"...Never mind then."
"Do I look like such a bad person to you?"
"You go around smiling ominously with an expression full of killing intent, wouldn't anyone see you that way?"
"I keep telling you, this is just how I look."
"Another lie."
Discriminating against people based on looks.
It really was a sad world.
Did I want to look like this?
As I'm pouting my lips with an aggrieved feeling, suddenly there's a shout.
"N-No...!"
"Hmm?"
A voice shrinking excessively.
Turning around, there's a pink girl. The sight of her trembling but raising her head is quite pitiful.
What is she trying to say?
"Y-Young Master is... n-not a bad person!"
"Hooh."
"What?"
"Young Master is, is a good person. Not bad at all..."
"My goodness."
I involuntarily cover my mouth.
What did our protagonist just say? That I'm not bad?
"Y-Young Master is, is a warm person! S-Scary, but! But not bad...!"
Green eyes shaking frantically.
But as if mustering courage, she was pronouncing each sentence clearly.
To think the protagonist would defend me so earnestly.
How can I not be moved by this?
I should shed about 30 liters of tears right now.
Unable to contain the rising joy, I responded with a brightly blooming smile.
"I'm touched, Miss Regia."
"Y-Young Master has, has helped me a lot usually..."
"Mm-hmm."
This is the right reaction.
It was very different from a certain ungrateful fox living somewhere. I wish she would learn from this.
I quietly glance sideways.
"What."
"Don't you feel anything seeing Miss Regia?"
"Nope."
"Really?"
"...I said no."
She refuses to admit it to the end.
Does she want to have a go?
With an annoyed feeling, I firmly grabbed the luscious auburn tail.
"Eek?!"
"It's punishment."
"W-Wait, you...! N-Not the tail! I told you it's sensitive... Hick?!"
"Take it gracefully."
The conversation continues noisily.
The way back to the dormitory was going to be a bit louder.
***
Several days passed.
It was a time when we were gradually adapting to academy life.
They say humans are animals of adaptation.
Even the students who were being ground down by Galimar's tight schedule now seemed to be finding their tempo.
I was also living as if flowing along.
-Bubble top student.
Unfortunately, the bad rumors were still there.
Far from subsiding, the situation was getting worse day by day. It seems they were properly angered.
Is it because I scratched them too much last time?
But there hadn't been anything big blown up yet.
More precisely, it was the stage of laying foundations to blow up something big. It looked like they were preparing a stage.
I could catch it intuitively.
Something interesting will happen soon.
'I'm looking forward to it.'
Even at the point where a sense of crisis was being created, causing trouble was just enjoyable.
As the wait continued like that.
Today, finally something big came.
"My, my~ What situation is this?"
The scene was visible as soon as I entered the classroom.
Several students, including the villainous young lady, surrounded the protagonist who had fallen to the floor.
"Y-Young Master...!"
Regia whimpers as our gazes meet.
She doesn't look like she was hit anywhere... Did her legs just give out?
It seems she was severely harassed while I wasn't by her side.
"Excuse me."
I approach where the children are gathered.
After taking a few steps, soon there's a figure blocking the front.
"I wondered where you ran off to, leaving the commoner... You finally appeared."
Blue hair.
An arrogant tone.
I smile with my eyes as if I had expected this.
"I thought there might be someone hoping for my appearance."
"How impudent."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Ha."
Emilia laughs lightly.
The corners of her mouth were clearly curved upwards, but in reality it was terrible contempt.
"Now that arrogance will end."
"Hmm?"
"I intend to pull you down today. Have you enjoyed playing fake top student so far?"
"I've been enjoying it thanks to you."
"I hope you'll find what happens next fun too."
Right after sneering, the girl puts her hands together.
Fingers moving elegantly remove white gloves. What's visible beyond is pure white skin.
The action to follow was all too clear.
Tak-!
The sound of striking the chest.
Following that, the glove thrown by the girl falls to the floor.
Without even time to show any particular reaction, Emilia recites her prepared lines with clear pronunciation.
"I, Emilia Beniti, in the name of honor and order, challenge Yuda Snakers to a duel."
A duel.
A fight that can't be avoided if you're an honorable noble.
The girl was finally seeking a match.
"The price of defeat... is leaving Galimar Academy according to the winner's opinion."
A glint settles in her blue pupils.
The surrounding students start to stir.
As if they didn't expect such a thing to be wagered, the children look at us with shocked gazes.
The atmosphere heightens as if about to burst.
"Your answer?"
Everyone's gaze focuses.
It seems they were waiting for an answer.
An ominous smile hangs on my lips. Without hesitation, I spit out what they wanted.
"I accept."
Wow.
An expulsion bread.
This is going to be fucking fun.